A dishwasher comprising a heat pump

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a body; a heat pump that is disposed inside the body and that has a first heat exchanger providing the heating of the water to be used in the washing step, a second heat exchanger transferring the heat received from the first heat exchanger to the wash water and a compressor fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, realizing the refrigerant cycle; a water collection tank that is disposed just under the first heat exchanger, wherein the water condensing on the first heat exchanger is collected, and a water softening unit that enables the water taken from the mains to be softened so as to be used in the washing step.

1 . A dishwasher comprising a body; a heat pump that is disposed inside the body and that has a first heat exchanger providing the heating of the water to be used in the washing step, a second heat exchanger transferring the heat received from the first heat exchanger to the wash water and a compressor fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, realizing the refrigerant cycle; a water collection tank that is disposed just under the first heat exchanger, wherein the water condensing on the first heat exchanger is collected, and a water softening unit that enables the water taken from the mains to be softened so as to be used in the washing step, characterized by a sump that is connected to the water collection tank and the water softening unit; a pump that is disposed between the water collection tank and the water softening unit, and a control unit that enables the water in the water collection tank to be transferred to the sump and/or the water stored in the sump to the water softening unit by means of the pump. 
     
     
         2 . A dishwasher as in  claim 1 , characterized by the sump that is disposed in the vicinity of the water softening unit. 
     
     
         3 . A dishwasher as in  claim 1 , characterized by a level sensor that measures the level of the water accumulated in the sump and the control unit that operates the pump, thus providing the intake of the water from the sump into the water softening unit if the value received from the level sensor is above a water level value predetermined by the producer. 
     
     
         4 . A dishwasher as in  claim 2 , characterized by the control unit that enables the water to be delivered to the water softening unit to be taken from the mains if the water level received from the level sensor is below the water level value predetermined by the producer. 
     
     
         5 . A dishwasher as in  claim 2 , characterized by the control unit that operates the heat pump independently from the washing and drying needs, enabling the amount of water accumulated in the sump to be increased if the water level received from the level sensor is below the water level predetermined by the producer. 
     
     
         6 . A dishwasher as in  claim 1 , characterized by a heater disposed around the sump and that provides the heating of the water stored in the sump.